Lightweight cooling tower with cruciform columns

Abstract

There is disclosed a structural column which has a generally cruciform cross section. The column includes a generally rectangular core section formed by four orthogonally related walls (47, 48, 49, 50) and four flange portions. Each flange portion is provided by a pair of spaced-apart parallel flanges (51, 52; 53, 54; 55, 56; 57, 58) which are extensions of a pair of parallel walls (47, 49; 48, 50). The column is particularly suited for a tower e.g. a cooling tower which includes at least four vertically extending columns (22). A horizontal beam (23) extends between each pair of adjacent columns (22), and the ends of each beam (23) are inserted between the parallel flanges (51, 52; 53, 55, 56; 57, 58) of the columns. A side panel 24 is preferably supported by each beam (23) and a cover (25) is preferably supported by the side panels (24) and the columns (22).

I claim: 
     
       1. A cooling tower comprising at least four vertically extending columns, four of the columns providing four corners of the cooling tower, each of the columns having a generally cruciform cross section provided by a core section and four orthogonally related flange portions, each flange portion being formed by a pair of spaced-apart parallel flanges, at least four horizontally extending beams, each beam extending between a pair of adjacent columns and having each of its ends inserted between the parallel flanges of a column, means connecting the ends of each beam to the flanges of the associated column, at least four side panels, each of the side panels extending between a pair of adjacent columns and being supported by one of the beams, and a cover supported by the columns. 
     
     
       2. The structure of claim 1 in which the core section of each of the columns is formed by two pairs of parallel walls, each pair of walls extending perpendicularly to the other pair of walls, each pair of flanges being aligned with one of the pairs of walls. 
     
     
       3. The structure of claim 1 in which each of the columns is formed from pultruded fiberglass reinforced resin. 
     
     
       4. The structure of claim 1 in which each of the columns and each of the beams is formed from pultruded fiberglass reinforced resin. 
     
     
       5. The structure of claim 1 in which each of the columns and each of the beams and each of the side panels is formed from pultruded fiberglass reinforced resin. 
     
     
       6. The structure of claim 1 in which each of the side panels includes a pair of vertical side edges, each of the side edges being inserted between the parallel flanges of a column. 
     
     
       7. The structure of claim 1 including a basin at the bottom of the columns. 
     
     
       8. The structure of claim 1 including a metal beam below each of the columns for supporting the column, and a pin attached to the beam and extending upwardly into the core section of each of the columns for securing the column against horizontal movement. 
     
     
       9. The structure of claim 1 in which each of the pins has a rectangular cross section and fits relatively snugly within the core section of the column. 
     
     
       10. The structure of claim 1 including porous means for heat/mass exchange which is supported by the beams. 
     
     
       11. The structure of claim 1 including a drip collector positioned below each of the beams and attached thereto, each drip collector including a bottom wall which extends angularly downwardly toward the interior of the cooling tower whereby water which drips from the beams will flow into the cooling tower. 
     
     
       12. The structure of claim 1 in which each of the beams is generally rectangular in vertical cross section and includes a pair of vertically extending side walls and top and bottom walls which extend horizontally between the side walls. 
     
     
       13. The structure of claim 12 including a pair of gusset plates connected to each beam end and to the associated column, each of the gusset plates being connected to one of the side walls of a beam and to one of the flanges of a column. 
     
     
       14. The structure of claim 1 in which each of the side panels includes a pair of parallel spaced-apart vertical walls, horizontal top and bottom walls which extend between the vertical walls, and at least one reinforcing rib which extends between the vertical walls. 
     
     
       15. The structure of claim 14 in which the width of each side panel is less than the distance between the parallel flanges of the columns, and a filler member is inserted between each side panel and one of the flanges of the associated column. 
     
     
       16. The structure of claim 14 in which each of the side panels includes a top channel on the top wall thereof and an insert portion along the bottom thereof which can be inserted into the top channel of another side panel, each side of the cooling tower including a pair of upper and lower side panels, the insert portion of the upper side panel being inserted into the top channel of the lower side panel. 
     
     
       17. The structure of claim 1 in which the cooling tower includes at least eight of said columns, at least eight of said beams, and at least eight of said side panels, four of the columns providing four corners of the cooling tower and four other columns being positioned between each pair of adjacent corners to provide an intermediate column, each of the beams and each of the side panels extending between one of the corner columns and one of the intermediate columns. 
     
     
       18. The structure of claim 17 including four top channels which extend between the four corner columns and which are inserted over the tops of the side panels, said cover being supported by the top channels. 
     
     
       19. The structure of claim 1 including four top channels which extend between the columns and which are inserted over the tops of the side panels, said cover being supported by the top channels. 
     
     
       20. The structure of claim 1 including a basin at the bottom of the columns, porous means for heat/mass exchange which is supported by the beams, a liquid supply pipe extending vertically upwardly through the heat/mass exchange means, and liquid distribution means above the heat/mass exchange means and connected to the liquid supply pipe for distributing liquid to the top of the heat/mass exchange means. 
     
     
       21. The structure of claim 30 in which the liquid supply pipe is supported by a concrete pad below the basin.